Team Geels,

If you haven't already heard about this, please read below. I am asking everyone and anyone to attend the Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting TOMORROW NIGHT, TUESDAY, JUNE 21. If you can, meet at 6:30pm to PEACEFULLY protest outside the Whitted Building, 300 W. Tryon St in Hillsborough. Then at 7:00, sign up to speak (limited to 3 minutes) or be present to support those who are speaking out. Each person is allowed 3 minutes to speak, so practice and time yourself and they are limiting public comment to one hour total.

The discussion about regulating gatherings on 6/2/22 begins at 39:00 and lasts for 1 hour at this link:

https://orange-nc.granicus.com/player/clip/1568?view_id=2&redirect=true

The complete agenda for 6/21 is at this link:

http://server3.co.orange.nc.us:8088/WebLink/0/doc/67774/Page1.aspx

This is from David Ogden, ocstruth.org:

The Orange County Board of Commissioners will vote on a regulation that is an unequivocal and sweeping violation of the First Amendment rights of every Orange County Citizen.

The First Amendment states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The new regulation the board is voting on (see attachment) will make it illegal for: one or more persons to gather for any common purpose including but not limited to vigil, protest, observation, demonstration, or other action which promotes or objects to a person, policy, political candidate, issue, or action.

This regulation, which may be adopted TOMORROW night, will apply to anyone gathering for any purpose on or within 1,000 feet of any school property or any playground in Orange County.

This means that in Orange County:

• It will be illegal for parents to gather at a school property for the common purpose of discussing school policies, asking questions about events that have occurred, speaking about ideas for improvement, or raising questions about policies or actions they disagree with. According to the law, these types of actions would constitute a violation: gathering to promote, or object to, an issue or action.
• Likewise, it will be illegal for an individual parent to come on or near school grounds, to either support or object to the actions of any teacher or administrator or to support or object to any issue at their child's school. According to the law, this type of action would constitute a violation: one or more persons acting to promote or object to a person, policy, issue, or action.
• It will be illegal for a family, or group of neighbors, to gather at Gold Park for a Fourth of July Celebration. According to the law, this type of action would constitute a violation: gathering to promote the issue of Liberty.
• In the event of the sudden loss of a beloved individual, it will be illegal for the community to hold a vigil or observation to support each other and grieve on or near school property or at/near parks with playgrounds. According to the law, this type of action would constitute a violation: gathering to vigil and gathering to promote a person.

This law violates our fundamental rights:

• By abridging the freedom of speech
• By abridging the right of the people peaceably to assemble
• By abridging the right of the people to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

While this law would be egregious if passed… if we allow it to pass, we’re opening the door to our county government enhancing the law to prevent freedom of speech and assembly on any government or public property.

Unlike recent school board policies that were quietly passed without the knowledge of most of the community, we have a chance to make our voices heard before this law passes.

We must do everything we can to prevent this. Can you please do ALL THREE of these actions?

1. Write a short email, as soon as you can, to the Board of Commissioners. Time is limited to reach them before the meeting, so please email them now letting them know how you feel about the law they are proposing. Send the email to: [email protected]. Please copy [email protected] and [email protected] as well, as this can help create accountability.
2. Create a “Written Comment” that will be made part of the record during the upcoming meeting on Tuesday. Your comment can have the same statement as your email to the Board of Commissioners. Send your written comment to: [email protected]. Again, please copy [email protected] and [email protected] so that we can ensure all written comments are properly added to the record.
3. For now, we’re still free to gather in Orange County. Come to the board meeting tomorrow night at 6:30 to protest and at 7 p.m. to speak or support those who are speaking at the Whitted Building at 300 W. Tryon St. and to support your constitutional rights. Consider sharing the message you have sent as a public comment during the meeting.

This is a time where our community needs to act! Please take the time today to help prevent our rights from being stripped away.